HomeMy WebLinkAbout45 Corto Road
COD_____________ CERTIFICATE OF DEMOLITION
COD -1- 10/23
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION (REQUIRED):
PROJECT ADDRESS
DATE STRUCTURE BUILT ZONE CLASSIFICATION
NAME OF HOA: PROJECT FILED WITH ARB (DATE):
APPLICANT(S) NAME
MAILING ADDRESS
CITY STATE ZIP
E-MAIL ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NO.
PROPERTY OWNER(S) NAME
MAILING ADDRESS
CITY STATE ZIP
E-MAIL ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NO.
THE APPLICANT AND PROPERTY OWNER HEREBY DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT ALL
THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED FOR THIS APPLICATION IS TRUE AND CORRECT.
APPLICANT’S SIGNATURE DATE
PROPERTY OWNER’S SIGNATURE DATE
ACTION TAKEN
APPROVED DENIED
CONDITIONALLY APPROVED
NOTE: A DEMOLITION PERMIT WILL NOT BE ISSUED PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF A BUILDING PERMIT FOR A
NEW RESIDENCE.
BY: DATE: EXPIRATION:
THERE IS A TEN (10) CALENDAR DAY APPEAL PERIOD FOR THIS APPLICATION. APPEALS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION WITH A $713.00 APPEAL FEE BY _______________ P.M. ON _______________________.
DATE FILED RECEIPT NO. PAID RECEIVED BY
45 CORTO RD
1948 R-0
LOWER RANCHO 11/15/2024
ERIC TSANG
440 E. Huntington Dr., Suite 323, Arcadia, CA 91006
Mail@Eric-Design.com
(909) 569-3737
FUHUI ZHAO
45 CORTO RD
ARCADIA CA 91007
usfortune805@gmail.com
12/16/2024
SEE AFFIDAVIT BELOW
12/5/24 (P:\2024\20242073-45 Corto Rd\Memo-45 Corto Road.docx)
CARLSBAD
CLOVIS
IRVINE
LOS ANGELES
PALM SPRINGS
POINT RICHMOND
RIVERSIDE
ROSEVILLE
SAN LUIS OBISPO
1500 Iowa Avenue, Suite 200, Riverside, California 92507 951.781.9310 www.lsa.net
MEMORANDUM
DATE: December 5, 2024
TO: Jim Ji, US Fortune, Inc.
FROM: Casey Tibbet, M.A., Associate Cultural Resources Manager/Architectural Historian
SUBJECT: Historic Resources Evaluation – Primary Record and Building, Structure, and Object
(BSO) Form for 45 Corto Road in the City of Arcadia, Los Angeles County, California
(LSA Project Number 20242073)
LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA) completed a historical evaluation of the property at 45 Corto Road (Assessor
Identification Number 5777-003-010) in the City of Arcadia. In support of this effort, LSA conducted
research and an intensive-level field survey. The evaluation was documented on Department of Parks
and Recreation (DPR) 523A (Primary Record) and 523B (Building, Structure, and Object Record) forms
and the property was identified on a DPR Location Map.
As a result of LSA’s evaluation of this property, it was determined that the 1948 Minimal Traditional
residence does not appear to be eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources
under any criteria or designation under the local ordinance. In summary, research did not identify any
historically important people or events associated with the residence. It is not the work of a master
architect or builder, does not possess high artistic values, and is not iconic.
For these reasons, the property at 45 Corto Road does not qualify as a “historical resource” as defined
by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and, for purposes of this project, the City may
make a finding of “no impact” regarding built environment historical resources.
As a matter of information, the residence appears to retain original architectural features, such as
wood-framed windows. LSA recommends that the owner consider contacting an architectural salvage
company such as Pasadena Architectural Salvage and/or the Old Riverside Foundation, to see if they
are interested in salvaging any features prior to demolition.
Attachment: DPR Forms
DPR 523A (1/95) *Required information
State of California The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial
NRHP Status Code 6Z
Other Listings
Review Code Reviewer Date
Page 1 of 6 Resource Name or #: 45 Corto Road P1. Other Identifier:
*P2. Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted *a. County: Los Angeles and (P2b and P2c or P2d. Attach a
Location Map as necessary.)
*b. USGS 7.5' Quad: Mt. Wilson, CA Date: 1988 T1N; R 11W; S.B.B.M.
c. Address: 45 Corto Road City: Arcadia Zip: 91007
d. UTM: Zone: 11; mE/ mN (G.P.S.)
e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, elevation, etc., as appropriate) AIN: 5777-003-010
*P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries)
This one-story Minimal Traditional residence is situated on the west side of Corto Road in a residential neighborhood. The house is
irregular in plan and rests on a raised foundation, It has a moderately-pitched, cross-hipped roof sheathed with concrete shake and
has narrow eaves and a brick chimney. The exterior walls are covered with stucco. The east-facing, asymmetrical façade has a
wood-framed, multi-paned, double-hung window flanked by shutters, a wood-framed, multi-paned ribbon window with double-hung
end vents, a projecting wing with a recessed entry, and a wood-framed, multi-paned, double-hung window flanked by shutters. The
north elevation is largely obscured from view by vegetation, but has at least two wood-framed, multi-paned, double-hung windows.
The south elevation has a door and three wood-framed, double-hung windows. Metal awnings are above the door and each
window. The property also includes a detached garage with a modern door.
*P3b. Resource Attributes: (Original uses) HP2-Single-family property
*P4. Resources Present: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other (Isolates, etc.)
P5b. Description of Photo: (View,
date, accession #) Façade, view
west (11/15/24)
*P6. Date Constructed/Age and
Sources: Historic
Prehistoric Both
1948 (Building permit)
*P7. Owner and Address:
Unknown
*P8. Recorded by: (Name,
affiliation, and address)
Casey Tibbet, M.A.
LSA Associates, Inc.
1500 Iowa Avenue, Suite 200
Riverside, CA 92507
*P9. Date Recorded: November
15, 2024
*P10. Survey Type: (Describe)
Intensive-level CEQA compliance
*P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report and other sources, or enter "none.") None.
*Attachments: NONE Location Map Sketch Map Continuation Sheet Building, Structure, and Object Record
Archaeological Record District Record Linear Feature Record Milling Station Record Rock Art Record
Artifact Record Photograph Record Other (List):
P5a. Photo or Drawing (Photo required for buildings, structures, and objects.)
DPR 523B (1/95) *Required information
State of California The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
Page 2 of 6 *NRHP Status Code 6Z *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) 45 Corto Road
B1. Historic Name:
B2. Common Name:
B3. Original Use: Single-family residence B4. Present Use: Single-family residence
*B5. Architectural Style: Minimal Traditional
*B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations)
1948 – Permit issued to owner G. B. Pritchard for a dwelling and garage. Contractor is listed as T. L. Evans.
1969 – Permit issued to owner George Pritchard for a new shake roof.
1992 – Permit issued to owner Alice Pritchard for HVAC.
1999 – Permit issued to owner Alice S. Pritchard Trust to re-roof the house and garage with Monier Cedarlite.
*B7. Moved? No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location:
*B8. Related Features:
B9a. Architect: None found b. Builder: T. L. Evans
*B10. Significance: Theme: Area:
Period of Significance: Property Type: Applicable Criteria: NA
(Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.)
This 1948 Minimal Traditional residence does not meet the criteria for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources
(California Register) or designation under the local ordinance. It is not a “historical resource” for purposes of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Historic Context: Originally owned by the San Gabriel Mission and then a part of Rancho Santa Anita, the land that includes
present-day Arcadia was also owned by Scottish immigrant Hugo Reid (Architectural Resources Group 2016). Reid was the first to
make a modern impact on the land, raising cattle and building the first structure. After a succession of owners, in 1875 Elias J.
“Lucky” Baldwin purchased 8,000 acres of the rancho along with much of the surrounding area (Ibid.). He established the Baldwin
Ranch in the area that now contains the Los Angeles County Arboretum in what would become Arcadia (Ibid.). Residential
development from 1875 to 1909 is one of the first important themes in the City’s history (Architectural Resources Group 2016). See
Continuation Sheet
B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes)
*B12. References:
Ancestry.com
Var. A variety of records were accessed online in November 2024 at: http://home.ancestry.com/. These include city
directories, voter registration records, and United States Census Data.
Arcadia Historical Society
2021 Arcadia History. Our History. Accessed online in September 2021 at: https://arcadiahistoricalsociety.org/arcadia-history/
Architectural Resources Group
2016 “City of Arcadia Citywide Historic Context Statement.” Accessed online at: https://www.arcadiaca.gov/government/city-
departments/development-services/historic-preservation
California Department of Transportation
2011 Tract Housing in California, 1945-1973. A Context for National
Register Evaluation. Caltrans Division of Environmental
Analysis, Sacramento.
See Continuation Sheet
B13. Remarks:
*B14. Evaluator: Casey Tibbet, M.A., LSA Associates, Inc., 1500 Iowa
Avenue, Suite 200, Riverside, CA 92507
*Date of Evaluation: December 2024
(This space reserved for official comments.)
(Sketch Map with north arrow required.)
Refer to Location Map
DPR 523L (1/95) *Required Information
State of California - The Resources Agency
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET
Primary #
HRI #
Trinomial
Page 3 of 6 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) 45 Corto Road
*Recorded by LSA Associates, Inc. *Date: December 2024 X Continuation Update
*B10. Significance: (continued from page 2)
In 1883, Baldwin subdivided 3,000 acres into the Santa Anita Tract (Architectural Resources Group 2016). The townsite included
“town lots, villa sites, and larger 30-acre farm parcels (Architectural Resources Group 2016:27). Despite the construction of the Los
Angeles & San Gabriel Valley Railroad (LA&SGVR) and one of its depots in the new townsite, sales were slow and “Baldwin deeded
the remaining acreage of the Santa Anita Tract to his ranch manager Hiram Unruh” who had much greater success selling the lots
(Ibid.). By 1887, the townsite was known as Arcadia and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF) had gained control of the
LA&SGVR, bringing more traffic through the area (Ibid.).
The densest development occurred in the core of the town near the intersection of the ATSF and Southern Pacific railroads
(Architectural Resources Group 2016:33). Residential development in this part of town was on small lots, while development further
south was on multi-acre parcels (Ibid.). As late as 1903, when a census was taken to ascertain the population of the proposed City of
Arcadia, the area only had 642 residents, and many lived and worked on the Baldwin Ranch or were temporary residents working for
the railroads (Ibid.). Regardless, with a booming economy increasingly based on entertainment, horse racing, hospitality, and gambling,
Arcadia was incorporated in 1903, with Baldwin as its first mayor (Arcadia Historical Society 2021). In 1907, Baldwin established the
first Santa Anita Park, a horse racetrack that was “billed as the most modern and beautiful in the nation” and quickly became the
biggest attraction to the new city (Architectural Resources Group 2016:31). However, the track’s success was short-lived, as California
banned horse racing in 1909 resulting in the closure of Santa Anita Park (Ibid.).
Moving into the 1910s, Arcadia’s growth remained slow and steady (Architectural Resources Group 2016). However, the city began
shifting away from “its sporting days to more respectable pursuits, as it outlawed liquor licensing in 1912 and embarked on a series of
civic improvements” (Architectural Resources Group 2016:44). By 1915, electric streetlights had been installed in some areas and
streets were graded and oiled (Ibid.). Residential development in the 1910s saw the subdivision of larger parcels into smaller ones (2.5
to 5 acres) that attracted a wider variety of buyers who were interested in a more suburban lifestyle with room for some agricultural
pursuits (Architectural Resources Group 2016:49). Most of the 1910s subdivisions followed a grid pattern with graded and sometimes
paved roads without curbs or sidewalks (Architectural Resources Group 2016). In 1917, Anita Baldwin sold the old 185-acre Santa
Anita Park property to the County who deeded it to the federal government for use as a balloon training school (Architectural Resources
Group 2016). Known as Ross Field, the facility included storehouses, barracks to house approximately 3,500 men, and enormous
hangars for the hydrogen balloons, as well as many other buildings (Ibid.). This property later became Arcadia County Park.
After World War I, the region thrived and the 1920s were a transformative period in Arcadia’s development (Ibid.). Residential
subdivision accelerated with tracts designed in grid patterns like those of the 1910s, but with smaller lots (Architectural Resources
Group 2016:36). Single-family residential construction dominated the period (Ibid.). Most of these were modest in size and the earliest
were constructed in the Craftsman style, with Period Revival styles becoming dominant in the mid-1920s and into the 1930s (Ibid.). The
smaller lot subdivisions were located closer to the original town center, Pacific Electric lines, and the commercial district at Huntington
and First, while the larger multi-acre lots were in what was then the southern part of town (Ibid.).
The 1929 to 1941 period was characterized nationally by massive unemployment and economic uncertainty, but Arcadia was one of
the few places that did not experience a near cessation of construction (Architectural Resources Group 2016:65). The major factors for
this were Anita Baldwin selling off the remaining approximately 1,300 acres of the Baldwin Ranch; establishment of military facilities and
the related increase in demand for commercial businesses; and construction of a county park, which was a large Works Progress
Administration (WPA) project (Ibid.). “In 1933, California re-legalized horse race betting, and Anita Baldwin seized her opportunity to
revive her father’s racetrack dream” (Architectural Resources Group 2016:55). She sold 214 acres to a group of investors who hired
Gordon Kaufman to design the grandstand, Turf Club, and clubhouse and landscape designer Tommy Tomson to design the park’s
lush landscaping (Ibid.). “Santa Anita Park opened on Christmas day, 1934, and quickly became Arcadia’s signature landmark” (Ibid.).
Other Baldwin acreage was parceled out into several residential subdivisions that jumpstarted construction between 1936 and 1941
(Ibid.). Also in the late 1930s, Havenhurst, a development of modest homes on what was once rocky land east of Santa Anita Wash,
was “the first project of mass production of houses in Arcadia” (Architectural Resources Group 2016:70). The Baldwin developments
and Havenhurst were all located in the northern half of the city.
With the end of World War II (WWII) and the return of thousands of veterans, Arcadia and the greater Los Angeles area saw an
enormous increase in the development of affordable housing. Much of this development took the architectural vocabulary of the pre-war
years and combined it into simplified styles suitable for mass developments and small-scale apartments (City of Los Angeles 2011).
Development during the 1945-1970 period transformed the city from semi-rural to suburban, earning it the nickname a “Community of
Homes” (Architectural Resources Group 2016).
People Associated with this Residence. The house was built by contractor T. L. Evans for owner G. B. Pritchard in 1948 (City of
Arcadia var.). Very little information was found for T. L. Evans. In 1946 and 1947, he was the owner/builder for residences at 918 E.
Alta Vista Street and 1345 New York Drive in Pasadena (Pasadena Star-News 1946 and 1947). In 1948, several advertisements were
found for a carpenter crew available to provide complete building services; the contact was T. L. Evans (Pasadena Independent 1948).
In 1956, he partnered with Reuben Specktor on the Linda Lee Homes development north of the Pomona city limit at the intersection of
Foothill Boulevard and San Antonio Avenue (Progress-Bulletin 1956). These were three- and four-bedroom, (see Continuation Sheet)
DPR 523L (1/95) *Required Information
State of California - The Resources Agency
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET
Primary #
HRI #
Trinomial
Page 4 of 6 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) 45 Corto Road
*Recorded by LSA Associates, Inc. *Date: December 2024 X Continuation Update
*B10. Significance: (continued from page 3)
two-bathroom homes designed by architect William H. Bray, AIA (Ibid.). No additional information was found for Mr. Evans.
George B. Pritchard, III and/or members of his family owned and occupied the house from 1948 to at least 1999 (City of Arcadia
var.). George Barnard Pritchard, III, was born in Arizona in 1905 to George and Alice Pritchard (Ancestry.com var.). In 1937, George, a
graduate of the University of Georgia, married Alice Roberta Schureman (born in 1914), a graduate of Occidental College and resident
of South Pasadena (Pasadena Post 1937). George served in the United States Army Reserves from 1928 to 1953 and as a First
Lieutenant (Lt.) and Lt. Colonel in the Army from 1940 to 1947 (Ancestry.com var.). In 1950, Geroge was employed as a sales engineer
for a manufacturer of valves and fittings (Ibid.). He and Alice had a daughter, Sallie Louise (born in 1941) (Ancestry.com var.). In 1953,
George applied for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution as a descendent of Major John Barnard (Ibid.). In 1960,
George was employed as a mechanical engineer at Koebig & Koebig in Los Angeles (Ibid.). In 1965, he was working for G. W.
Galloway (Ibid.). Alice S. Pritchard was active in the Daughters of the American Revolution from at least the 1950s into 1980 (South
Pasadena Review 1954 and 1980). George died in 1983, and Alice died in 2014 (Ancestry.com var.).
Significance Evaluation. In compliance with CEQA, this property is being evaluated under the California Register criteria and the City
of Arcadia criteria for Landmarks (Chapter 1, Section 9103.17.060 of the City’s Municipal Code). The California Register criteria and 1-4
of the local criteria are identical, however, in addition to meeting one of the first four criteria, the local criteria also requires that the
property either be listed in the National Register of Historic Places or California Register (criterion 5) or be an iconic property (criterion
6). Because of this additional requirement, the local criteria are more restrictive than the California Register criteria. Therefore, it is
possible for a resource to meet the California Register criteria, but not the local criteria.
Criterion 1 - Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or regional history
or the cultural heritage of California or the United States. This residence is part of a pre-WWII subdivision consisting of one of the
last of the Baldwin family lands. However, most of the homes, including the subject residence, were built during the post-WWII period.
Therefore, the residence is more closely associated with the post-WWII residential boom that made a significant contribution to the
broad patterns of local, regional, and even national history, than with the pre-WWII subdivision. “More than 40 million housing units
were built in the United States during the 30-year period following the end of World War II, and at least 30 million of these were single-
family houses” (California Department of Transportation 2011:2). These homes were typically modest in size and style and constructed
in a short time as part of large tracts marketed to the working class. “The fundamental unit for postwar housing is not the individual
house, but the tract, or a single construction phase within a larger tract or new community” and typically a single home would not be
individually significant in this context (California Department of Transportation 2011:121). As with most homes associated with this
historic context, individually this residence is unimportant and insignificant.
The property may be a contributing element to a historic district associated with post-WWII residential development patterns,
although such a historic district has not yet been formally identified or evaluated. Because the property is not individually eligible for the
California Register or local designation and because the potential residential historic district has not been formally documented and
evaluated, no historical resources have been identified. It is not significant under this criterion.
Criterion 2 - Associated with the lives of persons important to local, California or national history. George and Alice Pritchard
were both descendants of people who participated in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). However, neither of them appears to have
been important to local, state, or national history. The residence is not significant under this criterion.
Criterion 3 - Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region or method of construction or represents the
work of a master or possesses high artistic values. This residence embodies the characteristics of the Minimal Traditional style
such as the narrow eaves, stucco wall cladding, front stoop entry, and simple decorative treatments (e.g. shutters). Although it retains a
high degree of integrity, it does not epitomize the design principals of the style more fully than others of its type. It does not rise to a
level beyond the ordinary and is not the work of a master architect or builder. It is not significant under this criterion.
Criterion 4 - Has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory or history of the local area,
California or the nation. This residence was built in 1948 using common materials and construction practices. It does not have the
potential to yield information important to the history or prehistory of the local area, California, or the nation. It is not significant under
this criterion.
See Continuation Sheet
DPR 523L (1/95) *Required Information
State of California - The Resources Agency
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET
Primary #
HRI #
Trinomial
Page 5 of 6 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) 45 Corto Road
*Recorded by LSA Associates, Inc. *Date: December 2024 X Continuation Update
*B10. Significance: (continued from page 4)
In addition to meeting one or more of the above criteria, the local ordinance requires that one of the following criteria be met.
Local Criterion 5 – Is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and/or California Register of Historical Resources. The
online National Register database (current through 2012) and the National Register weekly lists from 2013 through the present, were
searched, but no listings for this property were found (National Park Service n.d.a and n.d.b). In addition, the California Office of Historic
Preservation’s (OHP) Built Environment Resource Directory (BERD) was reviewed to determine whether this property is listed in or is
eligible for listing in either the National Register or California Register (California Office of Historic Preservation 2021). It is not
significant under this criterion.
Local Criterion 6 – Is an iconic property. According to the City’s ordinance, iconic means a property that “exhibits the City’s unique
character, history, or identity and/or has been visited and photographed so often by residents and visitors to the city that it has become
inextricably associated with Arcadia” (9103.17.160 Definitions). This residence is a common type and style; it does not exhibit the City’s
unique character, history, or identity. Online searches of historic images of Arcadia did not reveal any photos of this property. It is not
significant under this criterion.
*B12. References: (continued from page 2)
California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP)
2022 Built Environment Resource Directory for Los Angeles County. Accessed online in December 2024 at:
https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30338
City of Arcadia
Var. Building permits for 45 Corto Road. Accessed online in November 2024 at:
https://laserfiche.arcadiaca.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?startid=537578&cr=1
City of Los Angeles
2011 Jefferson Park HPOZ Preservation Plan, City of Los Angeles. On file at the City of Los Angeles.
Dixon Evening Telegraph
1904 Was Married Wednesday. October 14, page 1.
Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor
n.d. Property information accessed online in November 2024 at: https://maps.assessor.lacounty.gov/m/
National Park Service
n.d.a National Register Database and Research. Accessed online in November 2024 at:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-list.htm
n.d.b Weekly Lists Previous Years. Accessed online in December 2024 at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-
lists-previous-years.htm
Pasadena Independent
1948 Advertisements for contractors. March 2, page 27.
Pasadena Post
1937 Occidentalite Will Be Wed To Georgia Man. December 1937, page 12.
Pasadena Star-News
1946 Altadena Homes Construction Sets Fast Pace. October 9, page 6.
1947 D. F. Potter Given Permit to Build, April 10, page 5.
Progress-Bulletin
1956 New Linda Lee Custom Homes Going on View. December 7, page 22.
South Pasadena Review
1954 Mrs. George A. Cleary Entertains Directors. July 15, page 10.
1980 Las Flores Ch. Installs Davis. April 30, page 4.
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